Health care administration device

ABSTRACT

A health administration apparatus  10  is provided, which is capable of dispensing with a troublesome measuring operation such as to wrap a tape measure or the like around a part of concern of a human body by automatically finding the abdominal circumference (waist size) or the lumbar circumference (hip size) of a human body. The health administration apparatus  10  is configured to allow entry of body data of an examinee, including the height and weight of the examinee, and to be capable of finding the abdominal circumference of the examinee which is the circumferential size of a trunk part of the examinee by a computation based on the body data including the height and the weight of the examinee.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a health administrationapparatus which is capable of automatically measuring the physical sizeof a characteristic part of the body of an examinee that is useful injudging the condition of health of the examinee.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Examples of conventional apparatus capable of evaluating andmonitoring the degree of obesity of a human body include a body fatmeter, with which the user can measure the percent of his or her bodyfat to recognize the degree of his or her obesity and with which theuser is capable of monitoring the degree of his or her obesity forhealth administration by periodically measuring the percent of his orher body fat.

[0003] The abdominal circumference, or the so-called waist size, whichis the circumferential size of a trunk part, is the physical size of apart of a human body which is likely to have relation to the degree ofobesity and which can be used as an indicator of the condition ofhealth.

[0004] That is, by measuring the waist size of a human body, it ispossible to obtain a measure in connection with the degree of obesity ofthe human body; if the user finds an increase in his or her waist size,the user can control his or her health condition by taking care ofdietary habits and the like to prevent obesity.

[0005] Heretofore, however, it has been required that the waist sizemeasurement be performed with use of a tape measure or the like and,hence, the measurement has been time-consuming. Specifically, it hasbeen required that such a tape measure be wrapped around the waist partof a human body to achieve measurement and, hence, the measurement hasbeen time-consuming. Particularly when the waist size measurement is tobe performed for a group medical examination in a school or a workplacefor example, much time is required because a large number of examineesshould be subjected to the measurement.

[0006] The lumbar circumference, or the so-called hip size, which is thecircumferential size of a hip part, is the physical size of another partof a human body which is likely to have relation to the degree ofobesity. The hip size measurement, also, needs to be performed with useof a tape measure or the like and hence is time-consuming.

[0007] It is, therefore, desirable that the waist size or hip size beautomatically found by computation, not by direct measurement with atape measure or the like. It is also desirable that health-relatedinformation about a body be obtained on the basis of such a waist sizeor hip size.

[0008] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea health administration apparatus which is capable of automaticallyfinding the waist size or the hip size of a human body that can be usedin evaluating the degree of obesity of the human body and which iscapable of dispensing with direct measurement of the human body with atape measure or the like.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0009] In order to resolve the foregoing problems, a healthadministration apparatus according to the present invention isconfigured such that: the apparatus allows entry of body data of anexaminee including the height and weight of the examinee; and

[0010] the apparatus is capable of finding the abdominal circumferenceof the examinee which is the circumferential size of a trunk part of theexaminee by a computation based on the body data including the heightand the weight of the examinee.

[0011] With this health administration apparatus according to thepresent invention, it is possible to automatically find the abdominalcircumference (waist size) of an examinee which is the circumferentialsize of a trunk part of the examinee as well as to dispense with atroublesome measuring operation such as to wrap a tape measure or thelike around the trunk of a human body to find the abdominalcircumference in judging the degree of obesity of the human body.

[0012] A health administration apparatus according to the invention maybe configured such that: the apparatus allows entry of body data of anexaminee including the height and weight of the examinee;

[0013] the apparatus has impedance measurement means capable ofmeasuring the impedance of the body of the examinee via electrodesbrought into contact with extremities of the body of the examinee; and

[0014] the apparatus is capable of finding the abdominal circumferenceof the examinee which is the circumferential size of a trunk part of theexaminee by a computation based on the body data including the heightand weight of the examinee and the impedance of the body of theexaminee.

[0015] This health administration apparatus according to the inventionis capable of automatically finding the abdominal circumference of anexaminee.

[0016] A health administration apparatus according to the invention maybe configured such that: the apparatus allows entry of body data of anexaminee including the height and weight of the examinee;

[0017] the apparatus has body fat percent measurement means capable offinding the body fat percent of the examinee based on the impedance ofthe body of the examinee that is measured via electrodes brought intocontact with extremities of the body of the examinee; and

[0018] the apparatus is capable of finding the abdominal circumferenceof the examinee which is the circumferential size of a trunk part of theexaminee by a computation based on the body data including the heightand weight of the examinee and information about the body fat of theexaminee measured by the body fat percent measurement means.

[0019] With this health administration apparatus according to theinvention, it is possible to automatically find the abdominalcircumference of an examinee as well as to obtain information about thebody fat of the examinee by the body fat percent measurement means.

[0020] A health administration apparatus according to the invention maybe configured such that: the apparatus allows entry of body data of anexaminee including the height and weight of the examinee;

[0021] the apparatus has body fat percent measurement means capable offinding the body fat percent of the examinee based on the impedance ofthe body of the examinee that is measured via electrodes brought intocontact with extremities of the body of the examinee; and

[0022] the apparatus is capable of finding the abdominal circumferenceof the examinee which is the circumferential size of a trunk part of theexaminee by a computation based on the body data including the height,weight, and body fat percent of the examinee.

[0023] With this health administration apparatus according to thepresent invention, it is possible to automatically find the abdominalcircumference of an examinee as well as to measure the body fat percentof the examinee that is usable as one of indicators of the condition ofhealth by the body fat percent measurement means.

[0024] A health administration apparatus according to the invention maybe configured such that: the apparatus allows entry of body data of anexaminee including the height, weight, and age of the examinee;

[0025] the apparatus is capable of finding the abdominal circumferenceof the examinee which is the circumferential size of a trunk part of theexaminee by a computation on the body data based on a predeterminedcomputing formula;

[0026] the computing formula is created by statistical processing ofcorrelations between the abdominal circumferences of a large number ofhuman bodies serving as samples that are measured by a physicalmeasurement and body data of the human bodies as the samples; and

[0027] the computation based on the computing formula for finding theabdominal circumference of the examinee is performed using the weight,age, and BMI of the examinee.

[0028] With this health administration apparatus according to thepresent invention, it is possible to find the abdominal circumference ofan examinee from the body data of the examinee including the height,weight, and age of the examinee based on the computing formula createdby statistical processing of correlations between the abdominalcircumferences of the large number of human bodies serving as samplesand body data of the human bodies including the heights, weights, andages of the human bodies.

[0029] Thus, it is possible to automatically find the abdominalcircumference (waist size) of an examinee which is the size of thecircumference of a trunk part of the examinee as well as to dispensewith a troublesome measuring operation such as to wrap a tape measure orthe like around the trunk of a human body to find the abdominalcircumference in judging the degree of obesity of the human body.

[0030] A health administration apparatus according to the invention maybe configured such that: the apparatus allows entry of body data of anexaminee including the height, weight, and age of the examinee;

[0031] the apparatus has body fat percent measurement means capable offinding the body fat percent of the examinee based on the impedance ofthe body of the examinee that is measured via electrodes brought intocontact with extremities of the body of the examinee;

[0032] the apparatus is capable of finding the abdominal circumferenceof the examinee which is the circumferential size of a trunk part of theexaminee by a computation on the body data including the height, weight,and body fat percent of the examinee based on a predetermined computingformula;

[0033] the computing formula is created by statistical processing ofcorrelations between the abdominal circumferences of a large number ofhuman bodies serving as samples that are measured by a physicalmeasurement and body data of the human bodies as the samples; and

[0034] the computation based on the computing formula for finding theabdominal circumference of the examinee is performed using the weight,age, body fat percent, and BMI of the examinee.

[0035] With this health administration apparatus according to thepresent invention, it is possible to find the abdominal circumference ofan examinee from the body data of the examinee including the height,weight, and age of the examinee based on the computing formula createdby statistical processing of correlations between the abdominalcircumferences of the large number of human bodies serving as samplesand body data of the human bodies including the heights, weights, andages of the human bodies, as well as to measure the body fat percent ofthe examinee that is usable as one indicator of the condition of healthby the body fat percent measurement means.

[0036] The computing formula for finding the abdominal circumference maybe created on a sex basis by dividing the large number of samples to beused in creating the computing formula into a male group and a femalegroup. Thus, the abdominal circumference of an examinee found from thebody data including the height, weight, and the like of the examineebased on the computing formula can reflect differences essential to thedifference in sex.

[0037] The health administration apparatus which is capable of findingthe abdominal circumference may be configured to find quantitativeinformation about visceral fat by a computation based on the abdominalcircumference found.

[0038] Since the abdominal circumference of an examinee, which is thecircumferential size of a trunk part of the examinee, is related to theamount of visceral fat adhering to the internal organs of the examinee,it is possible to find quantitative information about the visceral fatfrom the abdominal circumference. Visceral fat strongly influences thecondition of health such as adult diseases and, hence, such quantitativeinformation about visceral fat can be used as an important indicator inpredicting the condition of health.

[0039] The health administration apparatus according to the presentinvention may be configured to be capable of finding the visceral fatcross-sectional area of the examinee by a computation on the abdominalcircumference found with another predetermined computing formula,

[0040] wherein said another computing formula is created by statisticalprocessing of correlations between the actual visceral fatcross-sectional areas of the large number of human bodies as the samplesthat are measured by tomography and the abdominal circumferences of thehuman bodies as the samples.

[0041] With this health administration apparatus according to thepresent invention, it is possible to find the visceral fatcross-sectional area of an examinee from the examinee's abdominalcircumference found based on the aforesaid another computing formulacreated by statistical processing of correlations between the visceralfat cross-sectional areas of the large number of human bodies as thesamples and the abdominal circumferences of the human bodies.

[0042] On the other hand, a health administration apparatus according tothe present invention may be configured such that: the apparatus allowsentry of body data of an examinee including the height and weight of theexaminee; and

[0043] the apparatus is capable of finding the lumbar circumference ofthe examinee which is the circumferential size of a hip part of theexaminee by a computation based on the body data including the heightand weight of the examinee.

[0044] With this health administration apparatus according to thepresent invention, it is possible to automatically find the lumbarcircumference (hip size) of an examinee, which is the circumferentialsize of a hip part of the examinee, as well as to dispense with atroublesome measuring operation such as to wrap a tape measure or thelike around the hip of a human body to find the lumbar circumference injudging the degree of obesity of the human body.

[0045] A health administration apparatus according to the invention maybe configured such that: the apparatus allows entry of body data of anexaminee including the height and weight of the examinee;

[0046] the apparatus has impedance measurement means capable ofmeasuring the impedance of the body of the examinee via electrodesbrought into contact with extremities of the body of the examinee; and

[0047] the apparatus is capable of finding the lumbar circumference ofthe examinee, which is the circumferential size of a hip part of theexaminee, by a computation based on the body data including the height,weight, and impedance of the examinee.

[0048] This health administration apparatus according to the inventionis capable of automatically finding the lumbar circumference of anexaminee.

[0049] A health administration apparatus according to the invention maybe configured such that: the apparatus allows entry of body data of anexaminee including the height and weight of the examinee;

[0050] the apparatus has body fat percent measurement means capable offinding the body fat percent of the examinee based on the impedance ofthe body of the examinee that is measured via electrodes brought intocontact with extremities of the body of the examinee; and

[0051] the apparatus is capable of finding the lumbar circumference ofthe examinee, which is the circumferential size of a hip part of theexaminee, by a computation based on the body data including the heightand weight of the examinee and quantitative information about the bodyfat of the examinee measured by the body fat percent measurement means.

[0052] With this health administration apparatus according to thepresent invention, it is possible to automatically find the lumbarcircumference of an examinee as well as to obtain information about thebody fat of the examinee by the body fat percent measurement means.

[0053] A health administration apparatus according to the invention maybe configured such that: the apparatus allows entry of body data of anexaminee including the height and weight of the examinee;

[0054] the apparatus has body fat percent measurement means capable offinding the body fat percent of the examinee based on the impedance ofthe body of the examinee that is measured via electrodes brought intocontact with extremities of the body of the examinee; and

[0055] the apparatus is capable of finding the lumbar circumference ofthe examinee, which is the circumferential size of a hip part of theexaminee, by a computation based on the body data including the height,weight, and body fat percent of the examinee.

[0056] With this health administration apparatus according to theinvention, it is possible to automatically find the lumbar circumferenceof an examinee as well as to measure the body fat percent of theexaminee that is usable as one of indicators of the condition of healthby the body fat percent measurement means.

[0057] A health administration apparatus according to the invention maybe configured such that: the apparatus allows entry of body data of anexaminee including the height, weight, and age of the examinee;

[0058] the apparatus is capable of finding the lumbar circumference ofthe examinee which is the circumferential size of a hip part of theexaminee by a computation on the body data, including the height andweight of the examinee with a predetermined computing formula;

[0059] the computing formula is created by statistical processing ofcorrelations between the lumbar circumferences of a large number ofhuman bodies serving as samples that are measured by a physicalmeasurement and body data of the human bodies as the samples; and

[0060] the computation with the computing formula for finding the lumbarcircumference of the examinee is performed using the height, weight, andage of the examinee.

[0061] With this health administration apparatus according to theinvention, it is possible to find the lumbar circumference of anexaminee from the body data of the examinee including the height,weight, and age of the examinee based on the computing formula createdby statistical processing of correlations between the lumbarcircumferences of the large number of human bodies as the samples andthe body data of the human bodies including the heights, weights, andages of the human bodies.

[0062] Thus, it is possible to automatically find the lumbarcircumference of an examinee, which is the circumferential size of a hippart of the examinee, as well as to dispense with a troublesomemeasuring operation such as to wrap a tape measure or the like aroundthe hip of a human body to find the lumbar circumference in judging thedegree of obesity of the human body.

[0063] A health administration apparatus according to the presentinvention may be configured such that: the apparatus allows entry ofbody data of an examinee including the height, weight, and age of theexaminee;

[0064] the apparatus has body fat percent measurement means capable offinding the body fat percent of the examinee based on the impedance ofthe body of the examinee that is measured via electrodes brought intocontact with extremities of the body of the examinee;

[0065] the apparatus is capable of finding the lumbar circumference ofthe examinee which is the circumferential size of a hip part of theexaminee by a computation on the body data including the height, weightand body fat percent of the examinee with a predetermined computingformula;

[0066] the computing formula is created by statistical processing ofcorrelations between the lumbar circumferences of a large number ofhuman bodies serving as samples that are measured by a physicalmeasurement and body data of the human bodies as the samples; and

[0067] the computation with the computing formula for finding the lumbarcircumference of the examinee is performed using the height, weight, ageand body fat percent of the examinee.

[0068] With this health administration apparatus, it is possible toautomatically find the lumbar circumference of an examinee as well as todispense with a troublesome measuring operation using a tape measure orthe like to find the lumbar circumference.

[0069] The computing formula for finding the lumbar circumference may becreated on a sex basis by dividing the large number of samples into amale group and a female group. Thus, the lumbar circumference of anexaminee found from the body data including the height, weight and thelike of the examinee based on the computing formula can reflectdifferences essential to the difference in sex.

[0070] A health administration apparatus according to the invention maybe configured such that: the apparatus allows entry of body data of anexaminee including the height and weight of the examinee;

[0071] the apparatus is capable of finding the abdominal circumferenceof the examinee which is the circumferential size of a trunk part of theexaminee and the lumbar circumference of the examinee which is thecircumferential size of a hip part of the examinee by computations basedon the body data including the height and weight; and

[0072] the apparatus is capable of finding quantitative informationabout the visceral fat of the examinee by a computation based on theabdominal circumference and lumbar circumference found. Since theabdominal circumference and the lumbar circumference of a human body arerelated to the amount of visceral fat adhering to the internal organs ofthe human body, it is possible to obtain quantitative information aboutthe visceral fat from the abdominal circumference and the lumbarcircumference. Visceral fat strongly influences the condition of healthsuch as adult diseases and, hence, an important indicator for thecondition of health to be recognized can be obtained if suchquantitative information about visceral fat is obtained.

[0073] The health administration apparatus which is capable of findingthe lumbar circumference of the examinee may be configured such that:the apparatus allows entry of body data of the examinee including theheight, weight and age of the examinee;

[0074] the apparatus is capable of finding the abdominal circumferenceof the examinee which is the circumferential size of a trunk part of theexaminee by a computation on the body data based on a predeterminedcomputing formula;

[0075] the computing formula is created by statistical processing ofcorrelations between the abdominal circumferences of a large number ofhuman bodies serving as samples that are measured by a physicalmeasurement and body data of the human bodies as the samples;

[0076] the computation based on the computing formula for finding theabdominal circumference of the examinee is performed using the weight,age and BMI of the examinee;

[0077] the apparatus is capable of finding the visceral fatcross-sectional area of the examinee by a computation on the abdominalcircumference and lumbar circumference found with another predeterminedcomputing formula;

[0078] the aforesaid another computing formula is created by statisticalprocessing of correlations between the actual visceral fatcross-sectional areas of the large number of human bodies as the samplesthat are measured by tomography and body data of the human bodiesincluding WHR which is the ratio of the abdominal circumference of eachof the human bodies as the samples to the lumbar circumference of thathuman body (abdominal circumference/lumbar circumference); and

[0079] the computation with the aforesaid another computing formula forfinding the visceral fat cross-sectional area is performed using the WHRof the examinee.

[0080] With this health administration apparatus, it is possible to findthe visceral fat cross-sectional area of an examinee as quantitativeinformation about the visceral fat.

[0081] The health administration apparatus which is capable of findingthe lumbar circumference of the examinee may be configured such that:the apparatus allows entry of body data of the examinee including theheight, weight and age of the examinee;

[0082] the apparatus is capable of finding the abdominal circumferenceof the examinee which is the circumferential size of a trunk part of theexaminee by a computation on the body data based on a predeterminedcomputing formula;

[0083] the computing formula is created by statistical processing ofcorrelations between the abdominal circumferences of a large number ofhuman bodies serving as samples that are measured by a physicalmeasurement and body data of the human bodies as the samples;

[0084] the computation based on the computing formula for finding theabdominal circumference of the examinee is performed using the weight,age and BMI of the examinee;

[0085] the apparatus is capable of finding the visceral fatcross-sectional area of the examinee by a computation on the abdominalcircumference and lumbar circumference found with another predeterminedcomputing formula;

[0086] the apparatus has body fat percent measurement means capable offinding the body fat percent of the examinee based on the impedance ofthe examinee that is measured via electrodes brought into contact withextremities of the body of the examinee;

[0087] the aforesaid another computing formula is created by statisticalprocessing of correlations between the actual visceral fatcross-sectional areas of the large number of human bodies as the samplesthat are measured by tomography and body data of the human bodiesincluding WHR, which is the ratio of the abdominal circumference of eachof the human bodies as the samples to the lumbar circumference of thathuman body (abdominal circumference/lumbar circumference), and the bodyfat percents of the human bodies; and

[0088] the computation with the aforesaid another computing formula forfinding the visceral fat cross-sectional area is performed using the WHRand body fat percent of the examinee.

[0089] With this health administration apparatus, it is possible to findthe visceral fat cross-sectional area of an examinee as quantitativeinformation about the visceral fat.

[0090] The health administration apparatus which is capable of findingthe lumbar circumference of the examinee may be configured such that:the apparatus allows entry of body data of the examinee including theheight, weight, and age of the examinee;

[0091] the apparatus is capable of finding the abdominal circumferenceof the examinee, which is the circumferential size of a trunk part ofthe examinee, by a computation on the body data based on a predeterminedcomputing formula;

[0092] the computing formula is created by statistical processing ofcorrelations between the abdominal circumferences of a large number ofhuman bodies serving as samples that are measured by a physicalmeasurement and body data of the human bodies as the samples;

[0093] the computation based on the computing formula for finding theabdominal circumference of the examinee is performed using the weight,age, and BMI of the examinee;

[0094] the apparatus is capable of finding the visceral fatcross-sectional area of the examinee by a computation on the abdominalcircumference and lumbar circumference found with another predeterminedcomputing formula;

[0095] the apparatus has body fat percent measurement means capable offinding the body fat percent of the examinee based on the impedance ofthe examinee that is measured via electrodes brought into contact withextremes of the body of the examinee;

[0096] the aforesaid another computing formula is created by statisticalprocessing of correlations between the actual visceral fatcross-sectional areas of the large number of human bodies as the samplesthat are measured by tomography and body data of the human bodiesincluding WHR, which is the ratio of the abdominal circumference of eachof the human bodies as the samples to the lumbar circumference of thathuman body (abdominal circumference/lumbar circumference), the body fatpercents of the human bodies, and the square of the ratio of the weightof each of the human bodies to the height of that human body(weight/height); and

[0097] the computation with the aforesaid another computing formula forfinding the visceral fat cross-sectional area is performed using the WHRand body fat percent of the examinee and the square of the ratio of theweight of the examinee to the height of the examinee (weight/height).

[0098] With this health administration apparatus, it is possible to findthe visceral fat cross-sectional area of an examinee as quantitativeinformation about the visceral fat.

[0099] The health administration apparatus, which is capable of findingthe lumbar circumference of the examinee, may be configured such that:the apparatus allows entry of body data of the examinee including theheight, weight, and age of the examinee;

[0100] the apparatus is capable of finding the abdominal circumferenceof the examinee, which is the circumferential size of a trunk part ofthe examinee, by a computation on the body data based on a predeterminedcomputing formula;

[0101] the computing formula is created by statistical processing ofcorrelations between the abdominal circumferences of a large number ofhuman bodies serving as samples that are measured by a physicalmeasurement and body data of the human bodies as the samples;

[0102] the computation based on the computing formula for finding theabdominal circumference of the examinee is performed using the weight,age, and BMI of the examinee;

[0103] the apparatus is capable of finding the visceral fatcross-sectional area of the examinee by a computation on the abdominalcircumference and lumbar circumference found with another predeterminedcomputing formula;

[0104] the aforesaid another computing formula is created by statisticalprocessing of correlations between the actual visceral fatcross-sectional areas of the large number of human bodies as the samplesthat are measured by tomography and body data of the human bodiesincluding WHR, which is the ratio of the abdominal circumference of eachof the human bodies as the samples to the lumbar circumference of thathuman body (abdominal circumference/lumbar circumference), and thesquare of the ratio of the weight of each of the human bodies to theheight of that human body (weight/height); and

[0105] the computation with the aforesaid another computing formula forfinding the visceral fat cross-sectional area is performed using theWI{R of the examinee and the square of the ratio of the weight of theexaminee to the height of the examinee (weight/height).

[0106] With this health administration apparatus, it is possible to findthe visceral fat cross-sectional area of an examinee as quantitativeinformation about the visceral fat.

[0107] The health administration apparatus which is capable of findingthe lumbar circumference of the examinee may be configured such that:the apparatus allows entry of body data of the examinee including theheight, weight, and age of the examinee;

[0108] the apparatus has body fat percent measurement means capable offinding the body fat percent of the examinee based on the impedance ofthe body of the examinee that is measured via electrodes brought intocontact with extremes of the body of the examinee;

[0109] the apparatus is capable of finding the abdominal circumferenceof the examinee, which is the circumferential size of a trunk part ofthe examinee, by a computation on the body data including the height,weight, and body fat percent of the examinee based on a predeterminedcomputing formula;

[0110] the computing formula is created by statistical processing ofcorrelations between the abdominal circumferences of a large number ofhuman bodies serving as samples that are measured by a physicalmeasurement and body data of the human bodies as the samples;

[0111] the computation based on the computing formula for finding theabdominal circumference of the examinee is performed using the weight,age, body fat percent, and BMI of the examinee;

[0112] the apparatus is capable of finding the visceral fatcross-sectional area of the examinee by a computation on the abdominalcircumference and lumbar circumference found with another predeterminedcomputing formula;

[0113] the aforesaid another computing formula is created by statisticalprocessing of correlations between the actual visceral fatcross-sectional areas of the large number of human bodies as the samplesthat are measured by tomography and body data of the human bodiesincluding WHR which is the ratio of the abdominal circumference of eachof the human bodies as the samples to the lumbar circumference of thathuman body (abdominal circumference/lumbar circumference), and the bodyfat percents of the human bodies; and

[0114] the computation with said another computing formula for findingthe visceral fat cross-sectional area is performed using the WHR andbody fat percent of the examinee.

[0115] With this health administration apparatus, it is possible to findthe visceral fat cross-sectional area of an examinee as quantitativeinformation about the visceral fat.

[0116] The health administration apparatus which is capable of findingthe lumbar circumference of the examinee may be configured such that:the apparatus allows entry of body data of the examinee including theheight, weight, and age of the examinee;

[0117] the apparatus has body fat percent measurement means capable offinding the body fat percent of the examinee based on the impedance ofthe body of the examinee that is measured via electrodes brought intocontact with extremes of the body of the examinee;

[0118] the apparatus is capable of finding the abdominal circumferenceof the examinee, which is the circumferential size of a trunk part ofthe examinee, by a computation on the body data including the height,weight, and body fat percent of the examinee based on a predeterminedcomputing formula;

[0119] the computing formula is created by statistical processing ofcorrelations between the abdominal circumferences of a large number ofhuman bodies serving as samples that are measured by a physicalmeasurement and body data of the human bodies as the samples;

[0120] the computation based on the computing formula for finding theabdominal circumference of the examinee is performed using the weight,age, body fat percent, and BMI of the examinee;

[0121] the apparatus is capable of finding the visceral fatcross-sectional area of the examinee by a computation on the abdominalcircumference and lumbar circumference found with another predeterminedcomputing formula;

[0122] the aforesaid another computing formula is created by statisticalprocessing of correlations between the actual visceral fatcross-sectional areas of the large number of human bodies as the samplesthat are measured by tomography and body data of the human bodiesincluding WHR, which is the ratio of the abdominal circumference of eachof the human bodies as the samples to the lumbar circumference of thathuman body (abdominal circumference/lumbar circumference), the body fatpercents of the human bodies, and the square of the ratio of the weightof each of the human bodies to the height of that human body(weight/height); and

[0123] the computation with the aforesaid another computing formula forfinding the visceral fat cross-sectional area is performed using the WHRand body fat percent of the examinee and the square of the ratio of theweight of the examinee to the height of the examinee (weight/height).

[0124] With this health administration apparatus, it is possible to findthe visceral fat cross-sectional area of an examinee as quantitativeinformation about the visceral fat.

[0125] The health administration apparatus which is capable of findingthe lumbar circumference of the examinee may be configured such that:the apparatus allows entry of body data of the examinee including theheight, weight, and age of the examinee;

[0126] the apparatus has body fat percent measurement means capable offinding the body fat percent of the examinee based on the impedance ofthe body of the examinee that is measured via electrodes brought intocontact with extremities of the body of the examinee;

[0127] the apparatus is capable of finding the abdominal circumferenceof the examinee which is the circumferential size of a trunk part of theexaminee by a computation on the body data including the height, weight,and body fat percent of the examinee based on a predetermined computingformula;

[0128] the computing formula is created by statistical processing ofcorrelations between the abdominal circumferences of a large number ofhuman bodies serving as samples that are measured by a physicalmeasurement and body data of the human bodies as the samples;

[0129] the computation based on the computing formula for finding theabdominal circumference of the examinee is performed using the weight,age, body fat percent, and BMI of the examinee;

[0130] the apparatus is capable of finding the visceral fatcross-sectional area of the examinee by a computation on the abdominalcircumference and lumbar circumference found with another predeterminedcomputing formula;

[0131] the aforesaid another computing formula is created by statisticalprocessing of correlations between the actual visceral fatcross-sectional areas of the large number of human bodies as the samplesthat are measured by tomography and body data of the human bodiesincluding WHR, which is the ratio of the abdominal circumference of eachof the human bodies as the samples to the lumbar circumference of thathuman body (abdominal circumference/lumbar circumference), and thesquare of the ratio of the weight of each of the human bodies to theheight of that human body (weight/height); and

[0132] the computation with the aforesaid another computing formula forfinding the visceral fat cross-sectional area is performed using the WHRof the examinee and the square of the ratio of the weight of theexaminee to the height of the examinee (weight/height).

[0133] With this health administration apparatus, it is possible to findthe visceral fat cross-sectional area of an examinee as quantitativeinformation about the visceral fat.

[0134] The health administration apparatus which is configured toperform the computation based on the aforesaid another computing formulausing the WHR of the examinee may be arranged to form a body typejudgment based on the WHR of the examinee. With this healthadministration apparatus, it is possible to judge the body type of anexaminee based on the balance between the upper part and the lower partof the examinee's body by the WHR.

[0135] The health administration apparatus which is capable of findingthe abdominal circumference of the examinee may be arranged to form anobesity judgment based on the abdominal circumference of the examinee.With this health administration apparatus, it is possible to judgewhether an examinee is obese or not based on the size of the examinee'sabdominal circumference found.

[0136] The health administration apparatus which is capable of findingthe visceral fat cross-sectional area of the examinee may be arranged toform an obesity judgment based on the visceral fat cross-sectional areaof the examinee. With this health administration apparatus, it ispossible to judge whether an examinee is obese or not based on thevisceral fat cross-sectional area of the examinee found.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0137]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of ahealth administration apparatus.

[0138]FIG. 2 is a block diagram associated with the signal processing ofthe health administration apparatus.

[0139]FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment ofthe health administration apparatus.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0140] The best mode for carrying out the present invention will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0141]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a health administrationapparatus 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Aswill be described later, this health administration apparatus 10 iscapable of finding the abdominal circumference (hereinafter referred toas “waist size” as the case may be) of an examinee, which is thecircumferential size of a trunk part of the examinee and the lumbarcircumference (hereinafter referred to as “hip size” as the case may be)of the examinee which is the circumferential size of a hip part of theexaminee by computation.

[0142] In the health administration apparatus 10, a manipulating section7 allows entry of body data indicative of personal body characteristicsof the examinee when the examinee manipulates the manipulating section 7and is provided with numeric keys, character keys, and the like forinputting numerals and characters. The manipulating section 7 is alsoprovided with selection keys for selecting desired items of the bodydata. By manipulating the selection keys, numeric keys and the like, itis possible to input the body data.

[0143] Body data that can be inputted to the health administrationapparatus 10 includes the height, weight, sex distinction data, and ageof the examinee. The health administration apparatus 10 allows selectiveinputting of such sex distinction data according to the sex of theexaminee, and the sex of the examinee is distinguished by a sexadministration code corresponding to such selective inputting.

[0144] Not only the height and weight of the examinee thus inputted, butalso data indicative of body characteristics, such as waist size or hipsize, of the examinee found from the inputted body data by computation,is to be stored as body data in a storage device 15 to be describedlater.

[0145] The manipulating section 7 is further provided with an ON/OFFswitch for turning the power on or off to operate the healthadministration apparatus 10, and an impedance measurement start switchfor starting up a bioimpedance measurement to be described later.

[0146] The health administration apparatus 10 is also provided with bodyfat percent measurement means which is well known in the art of body fatmeasurement, as will be described below. The body fat percentmeasurement means is capable of finding quantitative information aboutbody fat such as the percent of body fat and the weight of internal fat.

[0147] The health administration apparatus 10 has an electrode 3disposed at a forward portion of the obverse surface of a main body 1 ofthe apparatus 10 on the left-hand side and an electrode 4 disposed at aforward portion of the obverse surface of the main body 1 on therighthand side. On the reverse side of the main body 1 are disposed anelectrode 5 at a location just reverse of the electrode 3 and anelectrode 6 at a location just reverse of the electrode 4.

[0148] The electrode group consisting of these electrodes 3, 4, 5, and 6is provided to measure the bioimpedance of a human body. The electrodes5 and 6 are a pair of current path forming electrodes for forming acurrent path in the body of an examinee, while the electrodes 3 and 4are a pair of voltage measuring electrodes for measuring the potentialdifference between two points on the current path.

[0149] The electrode group is connected to impedance measurement means(not shown) provided inside the main body 1. Specifically, theelectrodes 5 and 6 are connected to a circuit part forming aconstant-current source outputting a constant current, while theelectrodes 3 and 4 are connected to a circuit part forming a voltmeter.

[0150] In measuring the bioimpedance of an examinee via theseelectrodes, it is possible that, for example, the thumb and theforefinger of the left hand of the examinee are brought into contactwith the electrode 3 and the electrode 5, respectively, while the thumband the forefinger of the right hand of the examinee are brought intocontact with the electrode 4 and the electrode 6, respectively. In thisway the bioimpedance of the examinee can be measured with both of theexaminee's hands used as extremities of a human body.

[0151] Like the arrangement of the health administration apparatus 10,an arrangement such that the electrode 5 is disposed at a location justreverse of the electrode 3 while the electrode 6 disposed at a locationjust reverse of the electrode 4, has a merit that the examinee caneasily hold the main body 1 while keeping two fingers of each hand incontact with the electrodes. Thus, the bioimpedance can be measuredstably with the health administration apparatus 10 stably held andsupported by hands. Further, it is possible that the electrodes 3 and 5are substantially equally pressed by two fingers of one hand while theelectrodes 4 and 5 substantially equally pressed by two fingers of theother hand. Thus, the bioimpedance can be measured more stably.

[0152] While quantitative information about body fat can be obtained bythe body fat percent measurement means described above, the bodyimpedance measured may be stored in the storage device 15 to bedescribed later for use as one of personal body data items of theexaminee separately from information about body fat.

[0153] A display section 8 displays body data inputted from themanipulating section 7 and a body fat percent measured by the body fatpercent measurement means as well as the result of a computation such asa waist size found based on the body data inputted.

[0154] Next, a description will be made of blocks associated with thesignal processing of the health administration apparatus 10 togetherwith the operation of the health administration apparatus 10 withreference to FIG. 2. The health administration apparatus 10 has acomputing section 12 comprising a central processing unit (CPU) 14 andthe storage device 15 for performing various computations.

[0155] Various data and measured values stored in the storage device 15can be displayed in the display section 8. Input/output for body datainputted, the bioimpedance and the like to be processed at the centralprocessing unit 14 or the storage device 15 is performed through aninput/output device (I/O) 16.

[0156] The storage device 15 stores body data inputted throughmanipulation of function keys located at the manipulating section 7 anda measured bioimpedance value obtained through the electrodes 3 to 6.

[0157] The storage device 15 previously stores a computing formula andcoefficients for use in finding a body fat percent based on a measuredbioimpedance by computation and, hence, the apparatus 10 is capable offinding the body fat percent of an examinee.

[0158] The storage device 15 also stores a computing formula for findingthe BMI of an examinee and, hence, the apparatus 10 is capable offinding the BMI. A BMI can be found relatively easily as an indicator ofobesity from the formula: (weight)/(height)².

[0159] The storage device 15 further stores a computing formula forfinding a WHR, which is the ratio of the waist size to the hip size ofan examinee (waist size/hip size) and, hence, the apparatus 10 iscapable of finding the WHR.

[0160] Further, the storage device 15 stores the following formulae (1)to (4) as computing formulae for finding the waist size of an examineeby computation.

W _(L)=a₁ +b ₁ ·BMI+h ₁·age   (1)

WL=a ₂ +b ₂ ·BMI+g ₁·FAT+h ₂·age   (2)

WL=a ₃ +b ₃ ·BMI+c ₁ ·W+h ₃·age   (3)

WL=a ₄ +b ₄ ·BMI+C ₁ ·W+g ₂·FAT+h ₄·age (4)

[0161] In the formulae (1) to (4), W_(L) represents a waist size foundfrom a corresponding one of the formulae. W represents the weight dataof the examinee, FAT represents the body fat percent of the examinee,and age represents the age of the examinee.

[0162] The coefficients an, bn, hn (n=1, . . . , 4), and cn (n=1, 2) inthe formulae (1) to (4) are found in the following manner separatelyfrom other data and then stored.

[0163] That is, the actual waist size of each individual of anunspecified number of human bodies serving as samples is measured by aphysical measurement method. Each individual of the samples is thenmeasured as to various items of body data to be used in the formulae (1)to (4) noted above.

[0164] Subsequently, the plurality of body data items to be used in eachcomputing formula and the waist size are assumed to have correlations,which are then statistically processed to find the coefficients to beused in each formula.

[0165] Taking the formula (1) for example, the actual waist sizemeasured of each individual of the samples and the BMI and age of thatindividual are assumed to have correlations, and the correlations arestatistically processed to find a₁, b₁, and h₁. Here, in finding a₁, b₁,and h₁ the statistic processing of the correlations between two or morebody data items and a waist size can be achieved by multiple linearregression analysis.

[0166] In the formula (1), the coefficient b₁ with respect to BMI is thefirst regression coefficient of BMI, the coefficient h, with respect toage is the first regression coefficient of age, and a₁ is the firstregression coefficient of waist size.

[0167] In the same manner as with the formula (1), each of thecoefficients to be used in the formulae (2) to (4) can be found bystatistical processing of correlations between a waist size and bodydata.

[0168] In the formula (2), the coefficient b₂ with respect to BMI is thesecond regression coefficient of BMI, the coefficient g₁ with respect tobody fat percent (FAT) is the first regression coefficient of body fatpercent, the coefficient h₂ with respect to age is the second regressioncoefficient of age, and a₂ is the second regression coefficient of waistsize.

[0169] In the formula (3), the coefficient b₃ with respect to BMI is thethird regression coefficient of BMI, the coefficient c₁ with respect toweight (W) is the first regression coefficient of weight, thecoefficient h₃ with respect to age is the third regression coefficientof age, and a₃ is the third regression coefficient of waist size.

[0170] In the formula (4), the coefficient b₄ with respect to BMI is thefourth regression coefficient of BMI, the coefficient c₂ with respect toweight (W) is the second regression coefficient of weight, thecoefficient g₂ with respect to body fat percent (FAT) is the secondregression coefficient of body fat percent, the coefficient h₄ withrespect to age is the fourth regression coefficient of age, and a₄ isthe fourth regression coefficient of waist size.

[0171] In measuring the actual waist size of an individual human bodyserving as a sample to create the formulae (1) to (4), it is desirableto measure the circumferential size of a trunk part at or around thefourth lumbar vertebra of the human body.

[0172] This is because the size of such a part as a waist size isconsidered to reflect the condition of obesity and the like of the upperpart of the body of an examinee most, and because the healthadministration apparatus 10 can find a waist size that reflects thecondition of obesity and the like of the upper part of a human body mostif the size of such a part at or around the fourth lumbar vertebra ofeach human body of samples is collected as a waist size.

[0173] In the case of the health administration apparatus 10 there areprovided two types as each of the formulae (1) to (4), one for men andthe other for women. That is, the samples of human bodies are divided ona sex basis, and the statistic processing of correlations between thewaist sizes and other body data of human bodies serving as samples isperformed on a sex basis to create the formulae (1) to (4). Thus, thewaist size of an examinee to be found from other body data of theexaminee can reflect differences essential to the difference in sex moreexactly. In performing computations based on the formulae (1) to (4),formulae created for men or those created for women are selectedaccording to the sex of an examinee indicated by the sex administrationcode.

[0174] The number of human bodies serving as samples for collecting bodydata is desirably 100 or more in view of statistical processing ofcorrelations between waist sizes and other body data. More desirably,the number of human bodies is 500 or more.

[0175] With the formula (1) it is possible to find the waist size of anexaminee which reflects the BMI and the age of the examinee as body dataof the examinee. With the formula (2) it is possible to find the waistsize of the examinee which reflects the BMI, age, and body fat percentof the examinee. With the formula (3) it is possible to find the waistsize of the examinee which reflects the BMI, weight, and age of theexaminee. With the formula (4) it is possible to find the waist size ofthe examinee which reflects the BMI, weight, body fat percent and age ofthe examinee.

[0176] Of the formulae (1) to (4) noted above one for finding the waistsize of an examinee from a larger number of body data items is capableof finding the waist size more accurately because it allows the bodycondition of the examinee to be reflected more precisely from moredifferent angles. Specifically, the formula (4) of the formulae (1) to(4) is capable of finding the waist size of the examinee mostaccurately.

[0177] The storage device 15 also stores the following formulae (5) and(6) as computing formulae for finding the hip size of an examinee bycomputation.

H _(L) =a ₁₁ +c ₁₁ ·W+d ₁₁ ·T _(L) +h ₁₁·age   (5)

H _(L) =a ₁₂ +c ₁₂ ·W+d ₁₂ ·T _(L) +g ₁₁·FAT+h ₁₂·age   (6)

[0178] In the formulae (5) and (6) above, H_(L) represents a hip sizefound from a corresponding one of the formulae. T_(L) represents theheight of an examinee. The coefficients an, cn, dn, hn (n=11, 12), andgn (n=11) in the formulae (5) and (6) are found in the following mannerseparately from other data and then stored.

[0179] That is, the actual hip size of each individual of an unspecifiednumber of human bodies serving as samples is measured by a physicalmeasurement method. Each individual of the samples is then measured asto various items of body data to be used in the formulae (5) and (6)noted above.

[0180] Subsequently, the plurality of body data items to be used in eachcomputing formula and the hip size are assumed to have correlations,which are then statistically processed to find the coefficients to beused in each computing formula.

[0181] Taking the formula (5) for example, the actual hip size measuredof each individual of the samples and the weight, height, and age ofthat individual are assumed to have correlations, and these correlationsare statistically processed to find a₁₁, c₁₁, d₁₁, and h₁₁. Here, infinding a₁₁, c₁₁, d₁₁, and h₁₁ the statistical processing ofcorrelations between two or more body data items and a hip size can beachieved by multiple linear regression analysis.

[0182] In the formula (5), the coefficient c₁₁ with respect to weight(W) is the eleventh regression coefficient of weight, the coefficientd₁₁ with respect to height (T_(L)) is the eleventh regressioncoefficient of height, the coefficient h₁₁ with respect to age is theeleventh regression coefficient of age, and a₁₁ is the eleventhregression coefficient of hip size.

[0183] In the same manner as with the formula (5), the coefficients tobe used in the formula (6) can be found by statistical processing ofcorrelations between a waist size and body data.

[0184] In the formula (6), the coefficient c₁₂ with respect to weight(W) is the twelfth regression coefficient of weight, the coefficient d₁₂with respect to height (T_(L)) is the twelfth regression coefficient ofheight, the coefficient g₁₁ with respect to body fat percent (FAT) isthe eleventh regression coefficient of body fat percent, the coefficienth₁₂ with respect to age is the twelfth regression coefficient of age,and a₁₂ is the twelfth regression coefficient of hip size.

[0185] In measuring the actual waist size of each individual of humanbodies serving as samples to create the formulae (5) and (6), it isdesirable to measure the circumferential size of near the thickest partof the hip of the examinee.

[0186] This is because the size of such a part as a hip size isconsidered to reflect the condition of obesity and the like of the lowerpart of the body of an examinee most, and because the healthadministration apparatus 10 can find a waist size that reflects thecondition of obesity and the like of the lower part of a human body mostif the sizes of such thickest parts of the hips of human bodies servingas the samples are collected as hip sizes.

[0187] In the case of the health administration apparatus 10, there areprovided two types as each of the formulae (5) and (6), one for men andthe other for women. That is, the samples of human bodies are divided ona sex basis, and statistical processing of correlations between the hipsizes and other body data of the human bodies serving as samples isperformed on a sex basis to create the formulae (5) and (6). Thus, thehip size of an examinee to be found from other body data of the examineecan reflect differences essential to the difference in sex more exactly.In performing computations based on the formulae (5) and (6), theformulae of the type created for men or those of the type created forwomen are selected according to the sex of the examinee indicated by thesex administration code.

[0188] The number of human bodies as samples for collecting body data isdesirably 100 or more in view of statistical processing of correlationsbetween the hip sizes and other body data of the human bodies. Moredesirably, the number of human bodies is 500 or more.

[0189] The physical measurement method for measuring the waist sizes andhip sizes of human bodies serving as the samples in creating theformulae (1) to (6) described above may be any method by which thelength (size) of the waist or hip part of concern can be measured.Specifically, it is possible to employ any method which is capable ofmeasuring the length of a body part of concern as a physical quantitysuch as a method of directly measuring such a part by wrapping a tapemeasure around a human body as a sample or an automatic measurementmethod using light.

[0190] The storage device 15 also stores a computing formula for findinga WHR (waist size/hip size) based on waist size and hip size found withthe formulae (1) to (6), the WHR being the ratio of the waist size tothe hip size and, hence, the apparatus 10 is capable of finding the WHR.

[0191] Further, the storage device 15 stores the following formulae (7)to (11) as computing formulae for finding a visceral fat cross-sectionalarea as quantitative information about the visceral fat of an examineeby computation.

VA=j ₁ ·W _(L) +j ₁   (7)

VA=k ₁ ·WHR+j ₂   (8)

VA=k ₂ ·WHR+g ₂₁·FAT+j ₃   (9)

VA=k ₃ ·WHR+f ₂₁·(W/T _(L))² +j ₄ ₍10)

VA=k ₄ ·WHR+f ₂₂·(W/T _(L))² +g ₂₂·FAT+j ₅   (11)

[0192] In the formulae (1) to (4), VA represents a visceral fatcross-sectional area found from a corresponding one of the formulae. Thecoefficients in (n=1), jn (n=1, . . . , 5), kn (n=1, . . . , 4), fn, andgn (n=21, 22) in the formulae (7) to (11) are found in the followingmanner separately from other data and then stored.

[0193] That is, the actual visceral fat cross-sectional area of eachindividual of an unspecified number of human bodies serving as samplesis measured. Each individual of the samples is then measured as tovarious items of body data to be used in the formulae (7) to (11) notedabove.

[0194] Subsequently, the plurality of body data items to be used in eachof the computing formulae and the visceral fat cross-sectional area areassumed to have correlations, which are then statistically processed tofind the coefficients to be used in each of the computing formulae.

[0195] Taking the formula (11) for example, the actual cross-sectionalarea measured of the visceral fat of each individual of the samples andthe WHR, (weight/height)² and body fat percent of that individual isassumed to have correlations, and these correlations are statisticallyprocessed to find k₄, f₂₂, g₂₂, and j₅. In finding k₄, f₂₂, g₂₂, and j₅the statistic processing of correlations between two or more body dataitems and a visceral fat cross-sectional area can be achieved bymultiple linear regression analysis.

[0196] In the formula (11), the coefficient k₄ with respect to WHR isthe fourth regression coefficient of WHR, the coefficient f₂₂ withrespect to (W/T_(L))² is the 22nd regression coefficient of (W/T_(L))²,the coefficient g₂₂ with respect to body fat percent (FAT) is the 22ndregression coefficient of body fat percent, and j₅ is the fifthregression coefficient of the visceral fat cross-sectional area.

[0197] In the same manner as with the formula (11), the coefficients tobe used in the formulae (7) to (10) can be found by statisticalprocessing of correlations between the visceral fat cross-sectional areaand body data.

[0198] In the formula (7), the coefficient i₁ with respect to waist size(W_(L)) is the first regression coefficient of waist size, and j₁ is thefirst regression coefficient of visceral fat cross-sectional area.

[0199] In the formula (8), the coefficient k₁ with respect to WHR is thefirst regression coefficient of WHR, and j₂ is the second regressioncoefficient of visceral fat cross-sectional area.

[0200] In the formula (9), the coefficient k₂ with respect to WHR is thesecond regression coefficient of WHR, the coefficient g₂₁ with respectto body fat percent (FAT) is the 21st regression coefficient of body fatpercent, and j₃ is the third regression coefficient of visceral fatcross-sectional area.

[0201] In the formula (10), the coefficient k₃ with respect to WHR isthe third regression coefficient of WHR, the coefficient f₂₁ withrespect to (W/T_(L))² is the 21st regression coefficient of(W/T_(L))²,and j₄ is the fourth regression coefficient of visceral fatcross-sectional area.

[0202] Here, the measurement of the actual visceral fat cross-sectionalarea of a human body serving as a sample can be achieved by tomography.It is possible to use various tomographic methods that are capable ofaccurately measuring a cross-section of an abdominal part of a humanbody such as CT-scan, MRI, and ultrasonic diagnostics.

[0203] In the case of the health administration apparatus 10, there areprovided two types as each of the formulae (7) to and (11), one for menand the other for women. That is, the samples of human bodies aredivided on a sex basis, and statistical processing of correlationsbetween the visceral fat cross-sectional areas and other body data ofthe human bodies serving as samples is performed on a sex basis tocreate the formulae (7) to (11). Thus, the visceral fat cross-sectionalarea of an examinee to be found from other body data of the examinee canreflect differences essential to the difference in sex more exactly. Inperforming computations with the formulae (7) to (11), the formulae ofthe type created for men or those of the type created for women areselected according to the sex of the examinee indicated by the sexadministration code.

[0204] The number of human bodies as the samples for collecting bodydata is desirably 100 or more in view of statistical processing ofcorrelations between the visceral fat cross-sectional areas and otherbody data of the human bodies. More desirably, the number of humanbodies is 500 or more.

[0205] Still further, the storage device 15 is configured to pre-storecriterial values of waist size, WHR, and visceral fat cross-sectionalarea for judging the body type of an examinee. The criterial value ofwaist size established for judging the body type of a man is 85 cm,while that established for judging the body type of a woman is 90 cm.The criterial value of WHR established for men is 1.0, while thatestablished for women is 0.8. For men and women both, the criterialvalue of visceral fat cross-sectional area established is 100 cm².

[0206] The waist size, WHR, and visceral fat cross-sectional area foundon an examinee are compared with respective criterial values establishedto judge the obesity and body type of the examinee in the followingmanner.

[0207] That is, a man having a waist size of 85 cm or more and a womanhaving a waist size of 90 cm or more are judged to be of a body typethat is obese at the upper part of the body. A man having a WHR of lessthan 1.0 and a woman having a WHR of less than 0.8 are judged to be of abody type that is obese at the lower part of the body. A man and a womanare both judged to be of the visceral fat type obesity if theirrespective visceral fat cross-sectional areas are 100 cm² or more.

[0208] The health administration apparatus 10 having been describedabove is an example that is configured to allow the user to hold it byhis or her hands for manipulation. A health administration apparatusaccording to the present invention may comprise a single apparatuscapable of functioning not only as a health administration apparatus butalso as a weighing machine. Health administration apparatus 30 shown inFIG. 3 is incorporated with weight measurement means so that theapparatus 30 functions also as a weighing machine.

[0209] The health administration apparatus 30 has a main body formedwith a weight measurement surface 32 on the obverse side thereof, and aload cell not shown that is disposed inside the main body to detect aweight on the weight measurement surface 32. Thus, when an examineesteps onto the weight measurement surface 32, the weight of the examineecan be measured.

[0210] The weight measurement surface 32 is provided with electrodes 33,34, 35, and 36 for measuring the bioimpedance of an examinee. Theelectrodes 33 and 34 are a pair of current path forming electrodes forforming a current path by passing current through the body of theexaminee, while the electrodes 35 and 36 are a pair of voltage measuringelectrodes for measuring the voltage between two points on the currentpath.

[0211] As with the health administration apparatus 30, the electrodes33, 34, 35, and 36 are connected to impedance measurement means providedinside the main body, the impedance measurement means being well knownin the art of impedance measurement; thus, the impedance of a human bodycan be measured via the electrodes 33, 34, 35, and 36.

[0212] When an examinee steps onto the measurement surface 32 with hisor her left sole brought into contact with the electrodes 33 and 35 andhis or her right sole brought into contact with the electrodes 34 and36, the apparatus 30 can measure the weight of the examinee as well asthe bioimpedance of the examinee with his or her both feet serving asextremes of the human body.

[0213] The health administration apparatus 30 is provided withmanipulating section 7 and display section 8 which are configuredsimilarly to those of the health administration apparatus 10 describedearlier. Further, the health administration apparatus 30 is providedtherein with a computing section 12 comprising central processing unit14 and storage device 15 not particularly shown in FIG. 3.

[0214] The storage device 15, which is configured similarly to that ofthe health administration apparatus 10 described earlier, is adapted tostore inputted data, results of measurements and results ofcomputations. Computations for finding BMI and WHR and computations withthe foregoing formulae (1) to (11) are performed by the computingsection 12.

[0215] The weight of an examinee detected by the load cell disposedinside the health administration apparatus 30 is processed as weightdata by the computing section 12. Thus, with the health administrationapparatus 30 there is no need to manipulate the manipulating section 7in inputting the weight of the examinee and, hence, it is possible toreduce the number of body data items to be inputted through themanipulating section 7 and to lighten the burden of such manipulation.

[0216] Industrial Applicability

[0217] As has been described above, the health administration apparatusof the present invention provides the effect that an abdominalcircumference or a lumbar circumference can be found automatically. Withthe health administration apparatus it is possible to dispense with atroublesome operation such as to wrap a tape measure or the like arounda part of concern of a human body to measure an abdominal circumferenceor a lumbar circumference in judging the condition of health based on adegree of obesity.

1. A health administration apparatus characterized in that: theapparatus allows entry of body data of an examinee including the heightand weight of the examinee; and the apparatus is capable of finding theabdominal circumference of the examinee, which is the circumferentialsize of a trunk part of the examinee by a computation based on the bodydata including the height and weight of the examinee.
 2. A healthadministration apparatus characterized in that: the apparatus allowsentry of body data of an examinee including the height and weight of theexaminee; the apparatus has impedance measurement means capable ofmeasuring the impedance of the body of the examinee via electrodesbrought into contact with extremities of the body of the examinee; andthe apparatus is capable of finding the abdominal circumference of theexaminee, which is the circumferential size of a trunk part of theexaminee, by a computation based on the body data including the heightand weight of the examinee and the impedance of the body of theexaminee.
 3. A health administration apparatus characterized in that:the apparatus allows entry of body data of an examinee including theheight and weight of the examinee; the apparatus has body fat percentmeasurement means capable of finding the body fat percent of theexaminee based on the impedance of the body of the examinee that ismeasured via electrodes brought into contact with extremities of thebody of the examinee; and the apparatus is capable of finding theabdominal circumference of the examinee, which is the circumferentialsize of a trunk part of the examinee, by a computation based on the bodydata including the height and weight of the examinee and informationabout the body fat of the examinee measured by the body fat percentmeasurement means.
 4. A health administration apparatus characterized inthat: the apparatus allows entry of body data of an examinee includingthe height and weight of the examinee; the apparatus has body fatpercent measurement means capable of finding the body fat percent of theexaminee based on the impedance of the body of the examinee that ismeasured via electrodes brought into contact with extremes of the bodyof the examinee; and the apparatus is capable of finding the abdominalcircumference of the examinee which is the circumferential size of atrunk part of the examinee, by a computation based on the body dataincluding the height, weight, and body fat percent of the examinee.
 5. Ahealth administration apparatus characterized in that: the apparatusallows entry of body data of an examinee including the height, weight,and age of the examinee; the apparatus is capable of finding theabdominal circumference of the examinee, which is the circumferentialsize of a trunk part of the examinee, by a computation on the body databased on a predetermined computing formula; the computing formula iscreated by statistical processing of correlations between the abdominalcircumferences of a large number of human bodies serving as samples thatare measured by a physical measurement and body data of the human bodiesas the samples; and the computation based on the computing formula forfinding the abdominal circumference of the examinee is performed usingthe weight, age and BMI of the examinee.
 6. A health administrationapparatus characterized in that: the apparatus allows entry of body dataof an examinee including the height, weight, and age of the examinee;the apparatus has body fat percent measurement means capable of findingthe body fat percent of the examinee based on the impedance of the bodyof the examinee that is measured via electrodes brought into contactwith extremities of the body of the examinee; the apparatus is capableof finding the abdominal circumference of the examinee, which is thecircumferential size of a trunk part of the examinee, by a computationon the body data including the height, weight, and body fat percent ofthe examinee based on a predetermined computing formula; the computingformula is created by statistical processing of correlations between theabdominal circumferences of a large number of human bodies serving assamples that are measured by a physical measurement and body data of thehuman bodies as the samples; and the computation based on the computingformula for finding the abdominal circumference of the examinee isperformed using the weight, age, body fat percent, and BMI of theexaminee.
 7. The health administration apparatus according to claim 5,wherein the computing formula for finding the abdominal circumference iscreated on a sex basis by dividing the large number of samples to beused in creating the computing formula into a male group and a femalegroup.
 8. The health administration apparatus according to claim 6,wherein the computing formula for finding the abdominal circumference iscreated on a sex basis by dividing the large number of samples to beused in creating the computing formula into a male group and a femalegroup.
 9. The health administration apparatus according to any one ofclaims 1 to 8, which is capable of finding quantitative informationabout visceral fat by a computation based on the abdominal circumferencefound.
 10. The health administration apparatus according to any one ofclaims 1 to 8, which is capable of finding the visceral fatcross-sectional area of the examinee by a computation on the abdominalcircumference found with another predetermined computing formula,wherein said another computing formula is created by statisticalprocessing of correlations between the actual visceral fatcross-sectional areas of the large number of human bodies as the samplesthat are measured by tomography and the abdominal circumferences of thehuman bodies as the samples.
 11. A health administration apparatuscharacterized in that: the apparatus allows entry of body data of anexaminee including the height and weight of the examinee; and theapparatus is capable of finding the lumbar circumference of theexaminee, which is the circumferential size of a hip part of theexaminee, by a computation based on the body data including the heightand weight of the examinee.
 12. A health administration apparatuscharacterized in that: the apparatus allows entry of body data of anexaminee, including the height and weight of the examinee; the apparatushas impedance measurement means capable of measuring the impedance ofthe body of the examinee via electrodes brought into contact withextremes of the body of the examinee; and the apparatus is capable offinding the lumbar circumference of the examinee, which is thecircumferential size of a hip part of the examinee, by a computationbased on the body data including the height, weight, and impedance ofthe examinee.
 13. A health administration apparatus characterized inthat: the apparatus allows entry of body data of an examinee includingthe height and weight of the examinee; the apparatus has body fatpercent measurement means capable of finding the body fat percent of theexaminee based on the impedance of the body of the examinee that ismeasured via electrodes brought into contact with extremities of thebody of the examinee; and the apparatus is capable of finding the lumbarcircumference of the examinee, which is the circumferential size of ahip part of the examinee, by a computation based on the body dataincluding the height and weight of the examinee and quantitativeinformation about the body fat of the examinee measured by the body fatpercent measurement means.
 14. A health administration apparatuscharacterized in that: the apparatus allows entry of body data of anexaminee including the height and weight of the examinee; the apparatushas body fat percent measurement means capable of finding the body fatpercent of the examinee based on the impedance of the body of theexaminee that is measured via electrodes brought into contact withextremities of the body of the examinee; and the apparatus is capable offinding the lumbar circumference of the examinee, which is thecircumferential size of a hip part of the examinee, by a computationbased on the body data including the height, weight, and body fatpercent of the examinee.
 15. A health administration apparatuscharacterized in that: the apparatus allows entry of body data of anexaminee including the height, weight, and age of the examinee; theapparatus is capable of finding the lumbar circumference of theexaminee, which is the circumferential size of a hip part of theexaminee, by a computation on the body data including the height andweight of the examinee with a predetermined computing formula; thecomputing formula is created by statistical processing of correlationsbetween the lumbar circumferences of a large number of human bodiesserving as samples that are measured by a physical measurement and bodydata of the human bodies as the samples; and the computation with thecomputing formula for finding the lumbar circumference of the examineeis performed using the height, weight, and age of the examinee.
 16. Ahealth administration apparatus characterized in that: the apparatusallows entry of body data of an examinee including the height, weight,and age of the examinee; the apparatus has body fat percent measurementmeans capable of finding the body fat percent of the examinee based onthe impedance of the body of the examinee that is measured viaelectrodes brought into contact with extremities of the body of theexaminee; the apparatus is capable of finding the lumbar circumferenceof the examinee, which is the circumferential size of a hip part of theexaminee, by a computation on the body data including the height,weight, and body fat percent of the examinee with a predeterminedcomputing formula; the computing formula is created by statisticalprocessing of correlations between the lumbar circumferences of a largenumber of human bodies serving as samples that are measured by aphysical measurement and body data of the human bodies as the samples;and the computation with the computing formula for finding the lumbarcircumference of the examinee is performed using the height, weight,age, and body fat percent of the examinee.
 17. The health administrationapparatus according to claim 15, wherein the computing formula forfinding the lumbar circumference is created on a sex basis by dividingthe large number of samples to be used in creating the computing formulainto a male group and a female group.
 18. The health administrationapparatus according to claim 16, wherein the computing formula forfinding the lumbar circumference is created on a sex basis by dividingthe large number of samples to be used in creating the computing formulainto a male group and a female group.
 19. A health administrationapparatus characterized in that: the apparatus allows entry of body dataof an examinee including the height and weight of the examinee; theapparatus is capable of finding the abdominal circumference of theexaminee, which is the circumferential size of a trunk part of theexaminee, and the lumbar circumference of the examinee which is thecircumferential size of a hip part of the examinee by computations basedon the body data including the height and weight of the examinee; andthe apparatus is capable of finding quantitative information about thevisceral fat of the examinee by a computation based on the abdominalcircumference and lumbar circumference found.
 20. The healthadministration apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 18,characterized in that: the apparatus allows entry of body data of theexaminee including the height, weight, and age of the examinee; theapparatus is capable of finding the abdominal circumference of theexaminee, which is the circumferential size of a trunk part of theexaminee, by a computation on the body data based on a predeterminedcomputing formula; the computing formula is created by statisticalprocessing of correlations between the abdominal circumferences of alarge number of human bodies serving as samples that are measured by aphysical measurement and body data of the human bodies as the samples;the computation based on the computing formula for finding the abdominalcircumference of the examinee is performed using the weight, age, andBMI of the examinee; the apparatus is capable of finding the visceralfat cross-sectional area of the examinee by a computation on theabdominal circumference and lumbar circumference found with anotherpredetermined computing formula; said another computing formula iscreated by statistical processing of correlations between the actualvisceral fat cross-sectional areas of the large number of human bodiesas the samples that are measured by tomography and body data of thehuman bodies including WHR, which is the ratio of the abdominalcircumference of each of the human bodies as the samples to the lumbarcircumference of that human body (abdominal circumference/lumbarcircumference); and the computation with said another computing formulafor finding the visceral fat cross-sectional area is performed using theWHR of the examinee.
 21. The health administration apparatus accordingto any one of claims 11 to 18, characterized in that: the apparatusallows entry of body data of the examinee including the height, weight,and age of the examinee; the apparatus is capable of finding theabdominal circumference of the examinee, which is the circumferentialsize of a trunk part of the examinee, by a computation on the body databased on a predetermined computing formula; the computing formula iscreated by statistical processing of correlations between the abdominalcircumferences of a large number of human bodies serving as samples thatare measured by a physical measurement and body data of the human bodiesas the samples; the computation based on the computing formula forfinding the abdominal circumference of the examinee is performed usingthe weight, age, and BMI of the examinee; the apparatus is capable offinding the visceral fat cross-sectional area of the examinee by acomputation on the abdominal circumference and lumbar circumferencefound with another predetermined computing formula; the apparatus hasbody fat percent measurement means capable of finding the body fatpercent of the examinee based on the impedance of the examinee that ismeasured via electrodes brought into contact with extremities of thebody of the examinee; said another computing formula is created bystatistical processing of correlations between the actual visceral fatcross-sectional areas of the large number of human bodies as the samplesthat are measured by tomography and body data of the human bodies,including WHR which is the ratio of the abdominal circumference of eachof the human bodies as the samples to the lumbar circumference of thathuman body (abdominal circumference/lumbar circumference), and the bodyfat percents of the human bodies; and the computation with said anothercomputing formula for finding the visceral fat cross-sectional area isperformed using the WHR and body fat percent of the examinee.
 22. Thehealth administration apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 18,characterized in that: the apparatus allows entry of body data of theexaminee including the height, weight, and age of the examinee; theapparatus is capable of finding the abdominal circumference of theexaminee, which is the circumferential size of a trunk part of theexaminee, by a computation on the body data based on a predeterminedcomputing formula; the computing formula is created by statisticalprocessing of correlations between the abdominal circumferences of alarge number of human bodies serving as samples that are measured by aphysical measurement and body data of the human bodies as the samples;the computation based on the computing formula for finding the abdominalcircumference of the examinee is performed using the weight, age, andBMI of the examinee; the apparatus is capable of finding the visceralfat cross-sectional area of the examinee by a computation on theabdominal circumference and lumbar circumference found with anotherpredetermined computing formula; the apparatus has body fat percentmeasurement means capable of finding the body fat percent of theexaminee based on the impedance of the examinee that is measured viaelectrodes brought into contact with extremities of the body of theexaminee; said another computing formula is created by statisticalprocessing of correlations between the actual visceral fatcross-sectional areas of the large number of human bodies as the samplesthat are measured by tomography and body data of the human bodiesincluding WHR, which is the ratio of the abdominal circumference of eachof the human bodies as the samples to the lumbar circumference of thathuman body (abdominal circumference/lumbar circumference), the body fatpercents of the human bodies, and the square of the ratio of the weightof each of the human bodies to the height of that human body(weight/height); and the computation with said another computing formulafor finding the visceral fat cross-sectional area is performed using theWHR and body fat percent of the examinee and the square of the ratio ofthe weight of the examinee to the height of the examinee(weight/height).
 23. The health administration apparatus according toany one of claims 11 to 18, characterized in that: the apparatus allowsentry of body data of the examinee including the height, weight, and ageof the examinee; the apparatus is capable of finding the abdominalcircumference of the examinee, which is the circumferential size of atrunk part of the examinee, by a computation on the body data based on apredetermined computing formula; the computing formula is created bystatistical processing of correlations between the abdominalcircumferences of a large number of human bodies serving as samples thatare measured by a physical measurement and body data of the human bodiesas the samples; the computation based on the computing formula forfinding the abdominal circumference of the examinee is performed usingthe weight, age, and BMI of the examinee; the apparatus is capable offinding the visceral fat cross-sectional area of the examinee by acomputation on the abdominal circumference and lumbar circumferencefound with another predetermined computing formula; said anothercomputing formula is created by statistical processing of correlationsbetween the actual visceral fat cross-sectional areas of the largenumber of human bodies as the samples that are measured by tomographyand body data of the human bodies including WHR, which is the ratio ofthe abdominal circumference of each of the human bodies as the samplesto the lumbar circumference of that human body (abdominalcircumference/lumbar circumference), and the square of the ratio of theweight of each of the human bodies to the height of that human body(weight/height); and the computation with said another computing formulafor finding the visceral fat cross-sectional area is performed using theWHR of the examinee and the square of the ratio of the weight of theexaminee to the height of the examinee (weight/height).
 24. The healthadministration apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 18,characterized in that: the apparatus allows entry of body data of theexaminee including the height, weight, and age of the examinee;, theapparatus has body fat percent measurement means capable of finding thebody fat percent of the examinee based on the impedance of the body ofthe examinee that is measured via electrodes brought into contact withextremities of the body of the examinee; the apparatus is capable offinding the abdominal circumference of the examinee, which is thecircumferential size of a trunk part of the examinee, by a computationon the body data including the height, weight, and body fat percent ofthe examinee based on a predetermined computing formula; the computingformula is created by statistical processing of correlations between theabdominal circumferences of a large number of human bodies serving assamples that are measured by a physical measurement and body data of thehuman bodies as the samples; the computation based on the computingformula for finding the abdominal circumference of the examinee isperformed using the weight, age, body fat percent, and BMI of theexaminee; the apparatus is capable of finding the visceral fatcross-sectional area of the examinee by a computation on the abdominalcircumference and lumbar circumference found with another predeterminedcomputing formula; said another computing formula is created bystatistical processing of correlations between the actual visceral fatcross-sectional areas of the large number of human bodies as the samplesthat are measured by tomography and body data of the human bodiesincluding WHR, which is the ratio of the abdominal circumference of eachof the human bodies as the samples to the lumbar circumference of thathuman body (abdominal circumference/lumbar circumference), and the bodyfat percents of the human bodies; and the computation with said anothercomputing formula for finding the visceral fat cross-sectional area isperformed using the WHR and body fat percent of the examinee.
 25. Thehealth administration apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 18,characterized in that: the apparatus allows entry of body data of theexaminee including the height, weight, and age of the examinee; theapparatus has body fat percent measurement means capable of finding thebody fat percent of the examinee based on the impedance of the body ofthe examinee that is measured via electrodes brought into contact withextremities of the body of the examinee; the apparatus is capable offinding the abdominal circumference of the examinee, which is thecircumferential size of a trunk part of the examinee, by a computationon the body data including the height, weight, and body fat percent ofthe examinee based on a predetermined computing formula; the computingformula is created by statistical processing of correlations between theabdominal circumferences of a large number of human bodies serving assamples that are measured by a physical measurement and body data of thehuman bodies as the samples; the computation based on the computingformula for finding the abdominal circumference of the examinee isperformed using the weight, age, body fat percent, and BMI of theexaminee; the apparatus is capable of finding the visceral fatcross-sectional area of the examinee by a computation on the abdominalcircumference and lumbar circumference found with another predeterminedcomputing formula; said another computing formula is created bystatistical processing of correlations between the actual visceral fatcross-sectional areas of the large number of human bodies as the samplesthat are measured by tomography and body data of the human bodiesincluding WHR, which is the ratio of the abdominal circumference of eachof the human bodies as the samples to the lumbar circumference of thathuman body (abdominal circumference/lumbar circumference), the body fatpercents of the human bodies, and the square of the ratio of the weightof each of the human bodies to the height of that human body(weight/height); and the computation with said another computing formulafor finding the visceral fat cross-sectional area is performed using theWHR and body fat percent of the examinee and the square of the ratio ofthe weight of the examinee to the height of the examinee(weight/height).
 26. The health administration apparatus according toany one of claims 11 to 18, characterized in that: the apparatus allowsentry of body data of the examinee including the height, weight, and ageof the examinee; the apparatus has body fat percent measurement meanscapable of finding the body fat percent of the examinee based on theimpedance of the body of the examinee that is measured via electrodesbrought into contact with extremities of the body of the examinee; theapparatus is capable of finding the abdominal circumference of theexaminee, which is the circumferential size of a trunk part of theexaminee, by a computation on the body data including the height,weight, and body fat percent of the examinee based on a predeterminedcomputing formula; the computing formula is created by statisticalprocessing of correlations between the abdominal circumferences of alarge number of human bodies serving as samples that are measured by aphysical measurement and body data of the human bodies as the samples;the computation based on the computing formula for finding the abdominalcircumference of the examinee is performed using the weight, age, bodyfat percent, and BMI of the examinee; the apparatus is capable offinding the visceral fat cross-sectional area of the examinee by acomputation on the abdominal circumference and lumbar circumferencefound with another predetermined computing formula; said anothercomputing formula is created by statistical processing of correlationsbetween the actual visceral fat cross-sectional areas of the largenumber of human bodies as the samples that are measured by tomographyand body data of the human bodies including WHR, which is the ratio ofthe abdominal circumference of each of the human bodies as the samplesto the lumbar circumference of that human body (abdominalcircumference/lumbar circumference), and the square of the ratio of theweight of each of the human bodies to the height of that human body(weight/height); and the computation with said another computing formulafor finding the visceral fat cross-sectional area is performed using theWHR of the examinee and the square of the ratio of the weight of theexaminee to the height of the examinee (weight/height).
 27. The healthadministration apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 26, whichis configured to be capable of forming a body type judgment based on theWHR of the examinee.
 28. The health administration apparatus accordingto any one of claims 1 to 6 and 19 to 27, which is configured to becapable of forming an obesity judgment based on the abdominalcircumference of the examinee.
 29. The health administration apparatusaccording to any one of claims 9, 10 and 20 to 27, which is configuredto be capable of forming an obesity judgment based on the visceral fatcross-sectional area found.